Home/Growth/🔧 Plumbing/Fed up with commercial plumbers lowballing on big pipe jobs
Fed up with commercial plumbers lowballing on big pipe jobs
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FlushMaster
·17d·55 replies·54 participants
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FlushMaster👑 LegendOP17d
113
These commercial outfits keep undercutting me on repiping contracts with their cheap ProPress fittings at $85k for a whole building. I'm trying to land more like the $120k jobs with quality Viega stuff but they just chase the lowest bid. Sick of it, how do you compete without dropping my margins to crap?
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CircuitSavage👑 Legend16d
36
man i feel that, same bs in electrical bids.
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LockJock⭐ Expert16d
12
yep, clients don't see the difference til it leaks.
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SparkPlugger⭐ Expert16d
16
undercutting kills us all long term.
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HeatHustler2⭐ Expert16d
22
stick to your guns, quality wins eventually.
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PipeDreamer18🏆 Master15d
14
i know the pain, lost a school job last month to some hack.
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SpotlessSteve7🏆 Master15d
12
happens too often, they come back crying later.
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RustyNails🏆 Master15d
20
screw these big corps, they ruin the market for everyone.
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DrainDragon2🏆 Master14d
15
exactly, PE firms buying up shops and slashing prices.
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GreenThumbGuru4⭐ Expert14d
26
it's a race to the bottom, damn shame.
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ArcFlashAl👑 Legend14d
4
boycott the low bidders? nah, but yeah pissed.
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MulchMan⭐ Expert13d
2
sharkbites for commercial? hell no, but some idiots do it to save cash.
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HammerHeadHal2⭐ Expert13d
13
controversial take: they're fine if you crimp right, fight me.
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AmpedUpAl⭐ Expert13d
16
lost three jobs this quarter to that nonsense.
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SodSlinger2🏆 Master12d
20
we're all getting screwed by this.
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LeakHunter5⭐ Expert12d
14
i hear ya, it's exhausting.
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GroundFaultGus🏆 Master12d
25
commercial clients expect miracles for peanuts.
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DuctDoctor3🏆 Master11d
26
yep, then blame us when it fails.
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SpotlessSteve11⭐ Expert11d
35
same here, margins are trash now.
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BugBusterJoe3🏆 Master11d
15
try niching in high-end, skip the lowballs.
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NotAnElectrician17👑 Legend10d
12
good call, focus on schools with grants or something.
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ShingleShaman3⭐ Expert10d
19
i feel your frustration brother.
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LockPickLarry⭐ Expert10d
24
these chains demand $100k jobs for $70k bids.
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DustDevil3🏆 Master9d
18
unreal, and they skimp on pex crimps too.
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BrushStrokePro13⭐ Expert9d
19
quote higher and walk if they push back.
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DoorJammer👑 Legend9d
35
yeah man, been there.
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PlumbDumb🏆 Master9d
15
commercial is a crapshoot, stick to resi.
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WeedWhacker2⭐ Expert8d
12
i know, it's demoralizing.
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DirtDoctor⭐ Expert8d
23
don't chase them, build your rep elsewhere.
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ToolTinker⭐ Expert8d
21
lost a hospital bid to propress hacks.
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ShingleShaman2⭐ Expert7d
20
we all feel it.
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LadderLad6🏆 Master7d
2
how do you even quote against that?
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SolderSniper🏆 Master7d
17
software like jobber helps track real costs.
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SodSquad🏆 Master6d
28
solidarity man.
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LaminateLegend⭐ Expert6d
20
i get it, tough market.
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HueHero⭐ Expert6d
19
yep, underbidding everywhere.
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ChillTech🏆 Master5d
15
watched a roger wakefield vid on bidding strategy, helped me hold firm.
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SparkleSteve⭐ Expert5d
50
same struggle daily.
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LadderLad🏆 Master5d
12
feel that in my wallet.
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PickMaster🏆 Master4d
22
yeah, it's rough out there.
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FixItFelix8👑 Legend4d
18
we're in this together.
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CircuitSmasher4⭐ Expert4d
22
big box stores killing small ops.
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ArcFlashAvoider⭐ Expert4d
14
exactly, they flood with cheap labor.
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TarPaperTiger⭐ Expert3d
24
use service titan for better quotes.
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KeyMaster👑 Legend3d
3
hey, what's your go-to for commercial leads?
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TarPaperTiger⭐ Expert3d
14
proud to say i turned down a $90k lowball last week.
